Plastic gable top container



June 25, 1968 EGLESTON 3,389,849

PLASTIC GABLE TOP CONTAINER Filed Jan. 6, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORHARRY B. EGLESTON A TTORNEV June 25, 1968 H. B. EGLESTON 3,339,349

PLASTIC GABLE TOP CONTAINER Filed Jan. 6, 1966 .5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORHARRY B. EGLESTON jlw/vam A T TORNEY June 25, 1968 H. B. EGLESTON3,389,849

PLASTIC GABLE TOP CONTAINER Filed Jan. 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORHARRY B. EGLESTON A TTORNEV United States Patent 3,389,849 PLASTIC GABLETOP CONTAINER Harry B. Egleston, Livonia, Mich, assignor to Ex-Cell-OCorporation Filed Jan. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 534,257 13 Claims. (Cl. 229-17)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An extensible pouring spout closure for acontainer formed of thermoplastic resinous sheet material wherein thepouring lip area is sanitarily housed by means of a double tear edgeseal which may be opened by the initial tearing of a single, easilyaccessible fused edge seal that in turn initiates, as part of the sameoperation, the sequential breaking of a pair of independent spoutrelease edge seals.

The present invention relates to packaging, and more particularly to acontainer of the gable top variety including an extensible pouring spoutfor liquids and other fiowable materials. The innovation findsparticular, but by no means exclusive, utility in disposable containersadapted for distribution of milk and other dairy products.

A container of the foregoing character is customarily erected from aflat blank of sheet stock which has been impressed with an appropriatepattern of score lines, the latter defining a plurality of side panelstogether with corresponding upper and lower panel extension flaps orclosure members. The usual procedure in erecting the container is toform the blank into a polygonal tube, open at both ends, and then toclose the lower or bottom panel extensions, retaining them in place bymeans of a suitable adhesive. It is presently the practice to employpaperboard coated with heat and pressure sensitive thermoplasticsubstances, such as polyethylene, which not only renders the paper sheetmaterial resistant to fluids, but also serves as a sealing adhesive foreffecting tight closure and sealing of the container. This sealingaction is accomplished by heating the surfaces to be sealed and quicklypressing them tightly together to form a liquidtight plastic-to-plasticbond.

Although thermoplastic coated containers of the above described typehave been commercially successful, there are certain disadvantagesconnected with their use, one of the most marked of which involves theexistence of uncoated raw edges being exposed to the liquid productwithin the container. Although various methods have been devised tosolve the problem of penetration of the liquid product into thepaperboard, the result has been an increase in cost of the container,together with the packaging equipment.

A further disadvantage of containers made of thermoplastic coatedpaperboard sheet material, and having closures which include a pouringlip sanitarily protected therein, is disclosed in US. Patent No.3,120,335, issued February 4, 1964, and assigned to the assignees of theinstant invention. As stated therein, when the paperboard blank fromwhich the container is formed is initially prepared, all the surfaces ofthe container are coated with the thermoplasitc material. The pouringlip is thus also coated and, in the event heat is applied directly tothe lip surfaces, the lip itself becomes tightly sealed within theclosure. When such a container is opened, the lip is apt to becomedamaged, resulting in objectionable operation and presenting anunsightly appearance. Some means, such as the abhesive coating disclosedin the Patent 3,116,- 002, is thus required to prevent damage to thepouring lip.

It has long been known that the construction of containers fromthermoplastic sheet stock will solve the raw edge penetrating problem.However, applicant is the first to devise an all plastic extensibleclosure structure wherein the pouring lip area is sanitarily housedwithin a fused closure while preventing the lip from being sealed insuch manner that the lip is apt to become damaged, resulting inobjectionable operation and presenting an unsightly appearance. This isaccomplished by providing a double tear seal closure. The inner pouringlip edges are welded to provide a first tear seal, while the upstandingridge panel edges are welded to provide a second tear seal. The resultis that the pouring edge and its adjacent areas are completely andsanitarily sealed with the further attainment of a hermetically sealedclosure to allow for vacuum packaging.

The thermoplastic substance used is desirably one which is inert to thesubstance to be packaged, is strong and durable, is inexpensive, and iseasy to score and form into containers. One example of such athermoplastic substance which is useful for packaging dairy products ishigh-density polyethylene. It will be apparent to those skilled in theart, however, that other heat-scalable materials, that is to say,synthetic plastic material which can be welded together upon theapplication of fusing heat thereto, will find use under favorablecircumstances. Typical materials of this nature are polyvinyl chloride,polyvinyl acetate, vinyl copolymers, polypropylene, polystyrene,cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate. Sheet material ofabout 3 to 30 mils thickness are most advantageously employed, dependingupon its ability to take and retain a fold.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved gable top container closure formed of thermoplastic sheetmaterial which will be strong, simple to erect, close and seal, andsusceptible of high volume economical production for packaging milk andother comestibles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container of theabove type having a retractable pouring spout sanitarily housed withinan externally heat sealed closure, while preventing the pouring spoutfrom being permanently and inaccessibly sealed within the closure.

Still another object is to provide a container of the above characterhaving incorporated into its top end closure an extensible, sanitarilyprotected spout which may be opened by the initial tearing of a single,easily accessible fused seal that in turn initiates, as part of the sameoperation, the sequential breaking and simulaneous tearing of a pair.ofindependent spout release fused seals.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of the abovecharacter having a top closure incorporating at opposite ends thereof apair of extensible sanitarily protected pouring spouts in such mannerthat either spout may be selectively opened by the user with equalfacility, through the application of fingertip forces, to permitdispensing the contents of the container. A related object is to providea container wherein both spouts may be successively opened by the userto allow for packaging and dispensing non-flowable items.

A final object of the present invention is to provide a method for edgewelding the pouring spout of a synthetic plastic container that achievesa hermetically sealed top closure which has excellent releasecharacteristics.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary portion of the outside surface of a flat blankof sheet plastic material showing the inventive structure.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary perspective views illustratingsequentially certain of the steps involved in forming the top closure ofthe container.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the gable top subsequent tothe initial pouring spout sealing.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged partial end view of the initial pouring spoutsealing of the container as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the gable top prior to theouter sealing.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 99 ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned, perspective view of theassembled and sealed gable top.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged end view of the container of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are fragmentary perspective views showingsequentially various steps in opening one spout of the container.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, a certain illustrative container closure hasbeen shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form disclosed. On the contrary, the intentionis to cover all modifications, alternative constructions equivalents anduses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressedin the appended claims.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there is shown the outsidesurface of flat blank (FIG. 1) of thermoplastic sheet material with apattern of appropriate score lines. The container is separated intothree groups by score lines as represented by sta gered upper score line21. The portions of the container blank below score line 21, as seenfragmentarily in FIG, 1, the body group and comprises four side panels,22 through 25, and a side seam flap 26. The bottom closure group (notshown) is not necessary in the disclosure of the present invention;however, a complete description of one type of structure is given incopending patent applicaton No. 474,869, filed July 26, 1965, now PatentNo. 3,334,802, and assigned to the same assignee as the instantapplication.

The flat blank 20 is defined on the sides by edges 27 and 28, and withthe panels being separated by score lines 29 through 32. Integral withthe upper ends of the side panels, but separated therefrom by thetransverse score line 21, are a plurality of panel extensions which givethe top of the container its characteristic gable shape. These panelsinclude a transverse score line indicated generally by the numeral 33,generally parallel to the score line 21 and spaced between score line 21and the top edge of the tank 20. The areas between score lines 33 and 21define the roof panels 35 and 37 and the triangular end panels 34, 36 ofthe top closure, while the areas above score line 33 define the parts ofthe central rib 69, as shown in the completed closure of FIG. 10.

The roof panels 35, 37 are connected respectively with alternate sidepanels 23, 25. The upper ends of the roof panels are in turn connectedrespectively to outer rib panels 38, 39 along the common transversescore line 33. The rib panel 38 terminates in a top flap 40 runningalong its entire length and connected thereto along a transverse scoreline 41. By the same token, the outer rib panel 39 terminates in a topflap 42 connected thereto along a transverse score line 43.

The triangular end panels 34, 3-6 are connected to alternate side panels22, 24 along the score line 21. The triangular end panel 34 is flankedby triangular foldback panels 44, 45 connected thereto along upwardlyconverging score lines 46, 47. The downwardly converging or V contourprovided by the portions 48, 49 of score line 33 intersect with thescore lines 46, 47 at the apex of the panel 34. The panel 45 is alsoconnected to the inclined roof panel 35 along the perpendicular scoreline 29. A pair of inner rib or pouring spout panels 50, 51

are connected respectively to the foldback panels 44, 45 along theircorresponding score lines 48, 49. The panels 50, 51 are connected toeach other along a short perpendicular score line 52 extending from theintersection of the score lines 46, 47, 48, 49 upwardly to the edge ofthe blank. The opposite end of the inner rib panel 51 is connected tothe outer rib panel 38 along perpendicular score line 29. By the sametoken, the triangular end panel 36 is flanked by triangular foldbackpanels 53, 54 connected thereto along upwardly converging score lines55, 56. The panels 53, 54 are connected to the inclined roof panelsalong the perpendicular score lines 30, 31. Inner rib or pouring spoutpanels 59, 66 are connected to the triangular foldback panels 53, 54along the downwardly converging portions 57, 58 of transverse score line33. Panels 59, 6t are connected to each other along short perpendicularscore line 61 extending upwardly to the edge of the blank from theintersection of the score lines 55, 56, 57, S8. The opposite ends of ribpanels 59, 60 are connected to the roof panels 35, 37 alongperpendicular score lines 39, 31 respectively.

Above the point of intersection between horizontal score lines 41, 43with the perpendicular score lines 29, 30, 31 and 32 there are providedcut lines or slits 62. For the purposes of illustration the slits 62 areshown exaggerated in width while as a practical matter the slits arealigned on their associated score lines 29, 3t), 31 and 32 and have animperceptible width.

It will further be noted that the upper edges 63, 64, 65, 66 of the pourspout panels form a shallow inverted V contour that for the instantembodiment is complementary to the V contour formed by the score lines48, 49 and 57, 53. The purpose served by the inverted V contour edges63, 64, 65, 66 will be described later with respect to the formation ofthe top closure. In contradis tinction the top edges 67, 68 extend in astraight line along the top edges of the closure flap panels 40, 42.

The blank 20 of FIG. 1 is adapted to be erected into the completedcontainer C by first folding it upon itself to form a flat tube andadhesively securing the side seam flap 26 to the opposite edge portionof the blank. As the method together with the blank structure utilizedto side seam applicants blank forms no part of the instant invention;any suitable method, such as disclosed in US. Patents Nos. 3,085,430 and3,122,070, may be employed. These patents are assigned to the assigneeof the subject application and the disclosures thereof are incorporatedby reference for a more complete description of various side seamingmethods. While these patents are primarily concerned with side seamingplastic coated paperboard blanks, the manner of attaining a similarsurface to surface seal with sheet plastic would be closely analagous.

However, it is also within the contemplation of applicants disclosurethat thermoplastic blanks could be employed wherein no side seam flap,as such, is required. Examples of other possible methods include an edgeweld seal made by a hot bar or rotary-type bar applied directly to theblank edges and a hot knife type seal performed at the same time theblank is severed from its parent sheet plastic.

Still another extension of applicants closure would be its utilizationwith an extruded thermoplastic tube requiring no side seam.

Returning to the instant case of a flattened side seamed blank, the nextstep is its erection into a tube of substantially square cross-sectionand a suitable bottom closure, of the type shown for example inpreviously referred to US. patent application No. 474,869, infolded andsealed.

To seal applicants novel top closure, the parts thereof are infoldedinto gable form. Depending upon the properties of the particularthermoplastic material and the manner of forming the score lines itmaybe necessary to pro-bend the triangular panel score lines 46, 47, 55,and 56 by infolding the triangular end panels 34, 36 toward each otheras shown in FIG. 2. Again as in the case with the side seamingoperation, numerous methods could be used to score the blank to obviatethis step. For example, a thermoforming process could be employed orvarious cold pressure forming techniques utilized a consequence of whichwould produce inward movement of panels 34, 35 upon convergence of roofpanels 35, 37.

Going to FIG. 3, the closure flaps 40, 42 are pivoted outwardly abouttheir scores 41, 43, respectively toward a horizontal plane.Simultaneously therewith, or as a separate operation, the container isthen closed as by passing its top outer rib panels 38, 39 between a pairof converging shoes (not shown) which bring the outer faces of inner ribpour spout panels 50, 51, and 59, 60 respectively together (FIG. 4). Inorder to insure that the upper edges of the inner rib panels extendabove the upper surfaces of flaps 40, 42 a distance substantially equalto the full length of slit 62, it is essential that the shoes or otherclosing jaws, urge the rib portion, generally shown at 69, into theintimate face contact as shown in FIG. 5.

The inner rib panels 50, 51 are then heat sealed along their upstandingjuxtaposed edges 63, 64 while in a like manner the rib panels 59, 60 areheat sealed along their upstanding juxtaposed edges 65, 66, FIGS. 6 and7 illustrate the container closure after this initial hermetic sealingor welding operation, which is preferably made by a single heater barhaving sufiicient length and width to encompass the entire area of theupwardly facing edges. As clearly seen in the enlarged cross-sectionalview of FIG. 7, there are produced full edge welds 70 and 71 that sealonly the edges of the inner rib panels without forming additionalunwanted bands or partial seal between the edge welds and adjacentportions of the top closure.

In the instant embodiment the desired edge weld was achieved using highdensity polyethylene having a thickness of the order of mils. Bylocating the edges 63-65 approximately .06 inch above the scores 41, 43(equal to the length of slits 62), it was found that sufiicient materialis present to allow a single hermetic weld to be formed.

The sealing operation involves lowering a thermostatically controlledhot bar so as to just make contact with the stationary container edges6366 and subject them to a temperature of about 225 F. to 250 F. for adwell time of approximately one second, whereupon the hot bar is movedupwardly and the container is advanced to the next station. The amountof pressure applied to the edges is considered negligible as the thinedge sections will flow almost instantaneously upon contact with the hotbar, while the downward travel of the bar is positively stopped a fewhundreds below the initial contact point.

The apparatus for achieving applicants welded edge closure forms no partof the invention and numerous modifications may be made for heatsealing, such as, for example, impulse sealers or radiant sealers aswell as conventional rotary-type bar sealers or band rotary sealerswithout departing from the scope of the invention.

In order to preclude the formation of a depress or falling away of thepouring spouts adjacent the point P (FIG. 4), with a consequentincomplete weld and likelihood of rupturing under stress, resort is badto the inverted V contour previously noted. This eifects a complete sealby providing additional material at the tips of the infolded spouts toinsure a substantially horizontal welding area.

By using the above described edge seal of this invention in anextensible pouring spout, the surprising and unobvious discovery wasmade that the seal tears or separates along a line of weakness includedby the vertical plane of centerline 72 (FIG. 7). Hence, the edge weldprovides not only an easily formed hermetic weld, attained externally ofthe filled container, but also insures that the spouts will alwaysremain free and readily accessible in undamaged condition when the useropens the container in the prescribed manner.

In FIG. 9, a partial sectional view of the gable top illustrates thedisposition of flaps 40, 42 after being refolded upwardly into verticalsubstantially coextensive relation with their respective panels 38, 39to form a pair of sealing flaps extending completely across thecontainer. These sealing flaps have their paired end edges 74, 75 and73, 76 terminating substantially in the plane of the side walls 24 and22 respectively. In like manner the paired end edges, indicated at '77in enlarged FIG. 7A, remaining after the formation of welds 7t), 71terminate in the planes of the side walls 24, 22.

As previously indicated in the above discussion, the points oftermination 78 of slits 62 in conjunction with the location of scores41, 43 below the edges 63, 64 and 65, 66, respectively, are importantfeatures in arriving at applicants easy release hermetic sealed closure.The function to isolate the welding operation and thus prevent hang up"or cross blocking" of the pouring spout with consequent difficulty ofopening the container. The prevention of partial fusion or weldingbetween the inside surface areas 79 of the sealing fiaps 40, 42 and thewelds 70, 71 provide a smooth unbroken edge when pouring from thecontainer. It will be noted that sutficient time is provided for thewelds 76, 71 to be set by maintaining the rib portion 69 in clampedcondition, before flaps are moved to their position shown in FIG. 8.

The container C, as illustrated in FIG. 8, is moved to a final sealingstation during which time the rib flaps 4t), 42 are closed by closingguides (not shown) providing parallel surfaces on opposite sides of thecontainer top, their configuration bringing the top flaps into positionto be urged into their final intimate contact condition (FIG. 8) by theaction of clamping blocks (not shown). Preferabiy, the blocks have facesdesigned to effect contact of the entire rib surfaces above scores 88,89 with the exception of chamfered upper and side edge portions of theblocks. The reason for chamfering the block edges is to expose a definedportion adjacent the upper edges 67, 6S and paired side edges 73, 76 and74, 75 of the rib fiaps 40, 42 to achieve a controlled top and end edgeweld.

The method of achieving the exposed upper edge Weld 81 and end edgewelds 82 to complete the hermetic sealing of the container can be by ahot bar similar to the method used for welds and 71. In order to provideone single continuous weld along both the top and sides of sealing ribflaps 40, 42, a single vertically movable hot bar or head heater havinga generally inverted U-shaped configuration was employed tosimultaneously form the welds 81, 82. However, it is considered withinthe state of the art to attain the same result by having a hot barsealer in two or more sections to simultaneously or sequentially achievethe welds 81, 82 without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In order to provide a more pleasing and marketable container the exposededge welds 81, 82 have been controlled by means of the chamfered blockedges together with utilizing the block faces as cold pressure pads. Asseen in FIG. 11, a uniform flared weld results while the cold pressureapplied by the blocks also prevents warping or deforming of the sealedcontainer rib 69.

Because the exposed side edges 74, of the flaps and 77 of the pour spoutpanels are substantially coplanar, the side welds 82 can be accomplishedduring the same dwell period used to form weld 81. In order to insurethat the side edges are sealed, the welds 82 should extend approximatelyinch below the points of termination 78 of the slits 62.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 13 and 14, an extensible sanitarilyprotected pouring spout 85 of pitcher-like form is incorporated into thetop closure of the all plastic container 20 and rendered accessible as aresult of the partial severance of the edge welds S1, 82 together withsimultaneous and complete severance of edge weld 70 resulting in partialdisassembly of the central rib (FIG. 12). This is accomplished by takingadvantage of the angular arrangement of score lines defining thetriangular end panels and fold-back panels of the top closure, togetherwith the single plane of weakness, indicated at 72, which includes thecontrolled severance area of applicants edge welds 81 and 82 and 70 or71, depending whether triangular end panel 36 or 34 is used as thepouring spout end of the container.

The pouring spout 85 accordingly comprises the triangular end panel 36,triangular fold-back panels 53, 54, pouring lip panels 59, 60, adjacentportions of outer rib panels 38, 39, and adjacent portions of inclinedroof panels 35, 37 (FIGS. 1 and 12-14). The pouring lip panels 59, 60,by virtue of having their edges 65, 66 welded only to themselves,provide the spout S5 with a free and smooth unruptured lip area 80 (FIG.traversed by fluid poured from the container. This area 80 serves as apouring lip and affords excellent pouring and cutoff characteristics.Moreover, the pouring lip area 80 is completely and sanitarily enclosedby the outer edge welds 81, 82 and the edge welds 70, 71, and the spoutis enclosed with complete sanitary protection up to the time thecontainer is opened by the user. Furthermore, by eliminatingsurface-to-surface heat seals, which are essentially as strong as theoriginal sheet plastic, applicant has provided a closure that may beeasily and cleanly separated to open the container and extend the spout85.

I claim:

1. A container blank of sheet material for providing a tubular-likecontainer of rectangular configuration in horizontal cross-sectionhaving a gable-like closure on the top end thereof including a centraltransverse rib structure when in finalized closed condition, said blankcomprising,

(a) a sheet of material having four side wall panels defined partiallyby spaced vertically extending score lines and first and secondhorizontally extending score lines intersecting at generally rightangles with said vertical score lines and respectively defining theupper and lower boundaries of said wall panels,

(b) said vertical score lines extending from the upper edge of the blankto said second horizontal score line,

(c) said blank above said first horizontal score line defining a closuresection including a pair of spaced outer closure panels and a pair ofalternately disposed inner closure panels,

(d) said blank comprising a third horizontal score line spaced upwardlyfrom said first horizontal score line and defining in combining withsaid vertical score lines integral rib closure panels and pouring lippanels respectively in each of said outer and inner closure panels,

(c) said rib panels having a fourth horizontal score line spacedupwardly from said third horizontal score line and below its upperterminal edge to provide upper and lower sealing panels, and

(f) said blank having slit portions on said vertical score linescommencing at the terminal edge of said pouring lip panels and extendingat least to the juncture of said fourth horizontal score lines with saidvertical score lines, whereby the upper portion of said rib panels areadapted to be folded outwardly along their respective fourth horizontalscore lines to allow the pouring lip panels to extend above said fourthhorizontal score lines for heat sealing and the pouring lip panelterminal side edges and the rib panel side edges to be heat sealed whensaid upper rib portions are folded into finalized container form.

2. A container blank in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the upper terminal edge of each of said pouring lip panels havean inverted V-contour.

3. A gable top container of foldable thermoplastic sheet material, saidcontainer comprising the combination of;

(a) a tubular body having a bottom closure thereon,

(b) a pair of opposed roof panels inclined toward each other andoverlying said body,

(c) a pair of opposed end panels infolded between said roof panels fromthe opposite gable ends formed by the latter,

(d) two pair of fold-back panels each pair of which is integral with arespective area of said infolded end panels, said fold-back panels beingfolded adjacent the undersides of said roof panels,

(e) a rib panel surmounting each roof panel, each said rib panel formedwith a horizontal score line to provide upper and lower sealing panels,

(f) a pair of pouring spout lip panels joined by a vertical score lineand surmounting each pair of foldback panels and adjoining end panelwherein the upper edges of said lip panels extend above said horizontalscore line a defined distance to provide a pair of juxtaposed free sideedges,

(g) a sanitarily protected extensible pouring spout housed in collapsedcondition within said container and defined in part by one of said endpanels, an adjacent pair of said fold-back panels and an adjacent pairof said lip panels, said spout also being defined by adjacent portionsof said roof panels and rib panels,

(h) said lip panels being folded in generally juxtaposed substantiallyvertically extending relation with the adjacent pairs of theirterminating upper edges only being joined by a first fusion tear seal,and

(i) said upper sealing panels being folded in juxtoposed substantiallyvertically extending relation and projecting above said first fusionseals, the terminating upper and side edges of said upper sealing panelsbeing joined by a second fusion tear seal wherein said lip panel sideedges and said rib panel side edges forming a common fusion tear sealsuch that a liquidtight double tear seal closure is attained.

4. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein each said horizontal scoreline is located substantially intermediate the juncture of said ribpanel with its associated roof panel and its upper terminating edge.

5. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein said first fusion seal islocated above said horizontal score line a defined distance.

6. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein said container issemi-rigid in construction such that said edge seals have load bearingcapabilities while providing a controlled tear or severance line so thatthe closure may be subsequently opened to expose the spout.

7. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein the upper terminal edge ofeach pouring lip panel has an inverted V-contour.

8. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein each end thereofincorporates an extensible sanitarily protected pouring spout in suchmanner that either spout may be selectively used.

9. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein the height of said pouringlip panels being greater than onehalf the height of said rib panels.

10. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein:

(a) said second fusion tear seal on said side edges extending below saidfirst fusion tear seal on said lip panels.

11. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein:

(a) said first fusion seal is located above said horizontal score line adefined distance, and

(b) the upper terminal edge of each pouring lip panel has an invertedV-contour.

12. A container as defined in claim 11, wherein:

(a) each end of said container incorporates an extensible sanitarilyprotected pouring spout in such manner that at least one spout may beselectively used.

13. A container as defined in claim 12, wherein:

(a) said second fusion tear seal on said side edges ex- 9 10 tendingbelow said first fusion teal-seal on said lip 3,053,386 9/1962 Schlayeret 211. panels. 3,066,064 11/1962 Pommer 156-82 X 3,185,376 5/1965Crawford et a1. 22917 References C'ted 3,217,966 11/1965 Kelly 229-17UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,679,469 5/1954 B df d, DAVID M. BOCKENEK,Primary Examiner.

